The Prison Project (by Bethany Donaghy) novel Chapter 163

Chapter 163

Coban’s POV

The line went dead with a soft click that felt louder than it should’ve.

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I stared at the phone for a second longer than necessary, jaw tight, thumb hovering over the now dark screen like I might dial back just to mentally punch his voice again.

Then I powered it down fully, slid the SIM back out, and tucked everything away back where it belonged – hidden, separate, untraceable.

Control restored.

At least on the surface.

The room felt smaller now. Thicker. Like the air had been sucked out just from the conversation alone.

“You’ve just sold your soul,” Leo muttered from the opposite chair, breaking the silence.

I ground my teeth, a slow exhale pushing out through my nose. “Yeah, no shit.”

I leaned back against the wall, eyes on the lavender paint like it might crack if I stared hard enough. My father’s voice still echoed in my head – measured, annoyed, already calculating how my mess could be turned into leverage for him…

“But,” I added, rubbing a hand over my face, “he said he’ll visit Saturday. So I’ll see what he has to say about it then. Let him sit with it

for a couple days.”

Leo nodded once, like that made sense in his head. “That’s brave. Or maybe stupid?”

“But I had to tell him, he’d find out what I did anyhow, so I may as well use him to cover my back.” I shot my reasoning, watching him run his hands down his face – evidently stressed for me.

Leo huffed out a laugh, but it died quick. He could tell this wasn’t the kind of conversation you joke your way out of.

I pushed off the chair and paced the length of the room, boots scuffing the floor. The call hadn’t fixed anything. It hadn’t soothed the knot in my chest or quieted the alarms going off in my head. If anything, it’d made everything sharper.

Newman was dead.

The suits were safe now.

My father knew he could use this to have his hooks back in me.

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8:59 Wed, Dec 31

Chapter 103

And Margot fuck

Ah mind dragged heelf back to her time what tinic resin whether I wantest it to o

4 had to play the game, at least until I could make it through this. Make it out of here. Then rd by like a false canon Sty Darling wordter be able to tie me up forever. I’d be free to live my life. The way I want tof

Margot still didn’t know the hall of IL

She didn’t know hall the man my father was.

And I dreaded the day she’d find out…

“You okay? Leo asked, more serious now, watching me pace.

1 stopped, meeting his eyes. “No.”

At least I wasn’t lying.

“I’ve got too many people pulling on the same rope,” I continued. “The suits will think I’m their puppet now whenever shit hits the fan in here. My father thinks I’m back in his palm after asking him to help. And if either of them decide at any point that I’m more trouble than what I’m worth – then I won’t be getting out of here!”

He finished the thought for me. “They could use you but burn you.”

“Exactly, and anyone standing too close to me too, including you or the girls.” I added quietly.

Leo shifted in his chair. “They don’t scare me,”

“It’s not about fear, it’s about control. I need to stay on top of this project, until the very end.” I stated, as he nodded and hummed.

“And we will!” Leo confirmed, and I appreciated my friendship with him more than what he’d ever even know…

I ran my tongue along the inside of my cheek, jaw flexing. “That’s why Saturday matters. If my old man thinks I’m back on his side then he’ll help, he’ll keep the heat off me. Off her. He can make sure the suite stick to their end of the deal…”

“And what if he doesn’t?” Leo raises a wary brow.

I looked away. “I’ll make sure he does.”

There was no other choice, I had to play the game, even if it meant sucking up my father’s ass a little until I’m back on the outside.

Leo whistled low. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Cobe.”

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8:59 Wed, Dec 31

Chapter 163

I smirked without humor. A game I was fortunately born in to.”

A sharp rattle at the door cut through the tension like a blade.

Both Leo and I looked up instantly.

The handle turned and the same guard from earlier pushed the door open, irritation written plainly across his face like we were an

inconvenience rather than part of his job.

“Alright,” he drawled, already bored of us. “The girls are done with their visit. You can all head back downstairs now. It should be dinner

time. Follow me.”

Finally.

I pushed off the wall immediately, every nerve snapping to attention. Leo stood too, stretching his shoulders like he was shaking off the weight of the room, but I could tell his mind was still half on what I’d said.

We stepped out into the corridor behind the guard, boots echoing softly against the polished floor. The calm up here felt artificial, too clean, too quiet, like the building itself was pretending this wasn’t still a prison.

My eyes scanned ahead automatically.

Then I saw them.

Margot and Cara stood near the end of the hall just outside the recovery rooms, close together. Cara’s arm was looped through Margot’s, both of them still and waiting like they’d been left there on pause.

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